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as and when you might need one ...
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Wednesday, 25 April 2012

V is for Venlaw Castle, Peebles, in the Borders of Scotland

Venlaw
Castle was originally a 14th century fortification founded by Clan
Hay. The early house was built on the
site of the old Smithfield Castle in 1782 and enlarged in 1854.

Venlaw Castle Hotel

The
‘house’ is considered to be an excellent example of the Scottish Baronial style
and is set within extensive grounds – however in 1949 it became a hotel.

The
interesting part here is that the owners, the Cummings, could not afford to pay
the “development tax” levied on people turning a private house into a business.

The library in the turret, much asit was when it was built

However
the Cummings successfully fought to have the tax abolished, and their success
is recorded in Hansard.

Hansard
is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the
Westminster system of government, and is named after Thomas Curson Hansard
(1776 – 1833), an early printer and publisher.

Venlaw Castle Hotel -front aspect

The
hotel opened in 1949 and remained in the Cummings family until it was sold in
1997.

Venlaw
Castle may now be a hotel, but the Clan Hays continue on ... the Scottish clan
has played and continues to play an important part in the history and politics
of Scotland.

Clan
Hay descends from the Norman family of de la Haye – with evidence, based
largely on heraldry, being presented that the Scottish Hays were descended from
the La Haye’s of the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy.

Slains Pursuivant, Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick, is the privateofficer of arms of the Chief ofClan Hay (see Wiki)

One of
the Hay tartans as recorded in the Vestiarium
Scoticum – and with a name like that ... apparently it is “probably the
most controversial costume book ever written”.

The
book itself purported to be a reproduction, with colour illustrations, of an
ancient manuscript on the clan tartans of Scottish families – but shortly after
its publication it was denounced as a forgery ... and to this day it is accepted
that the Vestiarium is not what it claimed to be.

Hay Tartan taken from theVestiarium Scoticum

That is V is
for Venlaw Castle Hotel as it is now and the dubious Vestiarium Scoticum giving us a peek into
Scottish history, the realisation of the importance of heraldry, together with
the knowledge that the British Parliamentary record system is very robust ... part of the ABC
series of Aspects of British Castles.

29 comments:

The number of castle that have become hotels is quite surprising and here's another one. I wondered if the Cummings you mentioned were connected to those I mentioned in connection with Rait Castle.Blogger was playing silly 'beggars' all day yesterday for me too.

@ Laura - glad you're enjoying them - no worries re commenting I'm trying to get to everyone's blog - then find all the posts are interesting!!

@ Jo - the Castle was going to rack and ruin - and possibly the effects of the War affected the earlier family. So the Cummings did the Castle a huge favour .. especially fighting for the change in law.

Now it's a well loved hotel - even if a group run it .. such is business life ..

ah ah XYZ ... wait and see ..

@ Lucy - I hope you'll get here one day to see your roots ..

@ Diane - lovely place in the Tweeddale Valley - salmon fishing should you so wish.

Yes I was interested that the Cummings pursued the abolition of the tax ..

@ Slamdunk - well that's great news .. and hope one day you'll be able to make use of the information with a visit?

Hi Hilary. Another wonderful castle post. I like that the family turned this one into a hotel. And good for them for getting the tax abolished. I would really like to spend some time in that wonderful library.

Hi Luanne - a few of the castles have places to stay .. but this one is a proper hotel - the Scots were influenced by the French .. because of their Royal connections ..

@ Anna - oh give it a try .. it'd be fun and I'm sure all would be well .. if you've no husband, I'm sure we can find a lovely man in a kilt to guard the door for you !!

@ Annalisa - have you been reading Teresa's posts on Grim Fairy Tale takes? Rapunzel came up somewhere recently!!

Oh how lovely - I'm sure he knew the right version to wear .. must have been a very romantic day - did you have kilts and bagpipes?

@ Clarissa - it does look stunning doesn't it .. well refurbished.

@ Nutschell - do I hear another English visit forthcoming! Long walks are good for you!! But the Library does have a log fire to sit and read by the afternoons, or evenings ...

@ Paula - oh gosh .. everyone will be bemused by my X ... it looks very well restored and appointed - yes I'd quite like a stop over there! Glad you enjoyed this Castle Hotel.

@ Theresa - yes lots of nice houses called castles .. and after the War was probably a sensible business decision, as people were looking for ways beyond austerity.

It probably looks much the same - altering the fabric of the place would be challenging .. ie the room layout etc would be similar - but I'm sure they'd have altered things for the bedrooms etc

@ Steve - some the Castles have done that - but if your castle is one era - it'd look incongruous .. this one would cover Georgian, Victorian, 1900s and on ...

@ Susanne - the Cummings seemed like they had some 'nous' to get the tax abolished and to then alter it to a hotel.

The library does look superb doesn't it ..

@ A Lover of Words - I've actually no idea --- but under the Wikipedia site for Clan Hay - there's a link to William Comyn (which I think is the early (Norman) name) .. so actually probably French - but she'd have to search for her ancestors! Good to see you though ..

Thanks so much everyone - this looks like a good gathering and watering hole for bloggers united!

Hi Barbara .. great to see you - and certainly Bob and I have offered a tour of British castles .. I can imagine your book would have amazing photos and descriptions in it.

Picking this hotel-castle gave me the opportunity to bring in clan Scotland, the tartans, fabrication-hocus-pocus with the Vestiarium Scotium .. and then the Hansard parliamentary record - ensuring the castle could continue on ... as a hotel, and many could enjoy the grounds as well as stay the night.

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About Me

A lover of life – who after London, spent time in South Africa; an administrator, sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining ... who through her mother’s illness found a new passion – writing, in particular blogging; which provides an opportunity for future exploration, by the daughter, who has (in her 3rd age years) found a love of historical education. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat – interaction is the key! Now moved to Vancouver Island, Canada for 'a while' - not forever ...